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10 Questions with ... Joey Hoops
January 22, 2008
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1) What was your first job in radio? Early influences?
I worked at WZOK/Rockford as an intern. I was 14 years old ... and living a dream! People there were great! I eventually worked my way to part-time board op, part-time on-air and weekends. Then eventually I was nights at the age of 18. It was unreal! I met Tone E Fly and saw Scotty Davis both in Minneapolis and kept in touch with them ever since. My goal was to work at KDWB, and I finally do. I work at REV 96.7 programming during the week and on-air at KDWB on the weekends.
2) What led you to a career in radio? Was there a defining moment that made you realize "this is it"?
When I was on vacation and heard Tone E on the air, I begged my family to take me to Butler Square and meet him during his show. I will never forget the receptionist saying Tone E normally doesn't ever have visitors during his show, so I basically begged her just to say "hi." He invited me into the studio and I was really young. He said, "Oh, you work at WZOK," and I said, "Yes, as an intern." He named-dropped someone I was working with at the time and asked if I knew him? In awe of being in the same room as the person I looked up to a lot in radio, I said, "YES!" Then Tone said, "Tell him to fuck himself!" Apparently the guy didn't realize how talented Tone E was -- and is apparently now working a local toll booth on the Illinois Highway System!
3) If you were just starting out in radio, knowing now what you didn't then, would you still do it?
Without hesitation!
4) What career path would you be following had it not been for this industry?
I would be working with our family business that my brother-in-law runs.
5) Yours is a brand new station, how did the launch of REV 96.7 do in its first book?
It's crazy, because this is my first book of running a station -- and it's brand new! We just launched prior to the book. The ratings were the largest they have been in 18 years on this signal. That's all I'm gonna say. We are definitely doing what we are supposed to and will continue to do just that. I can't let too much out; we have a genius plan and can't let people in on that. Truth be told, I have the best staff I could have on our team. Our morning show is GREAT for our demo; they just get it. We have Chopper on in middays and he looks like he is a rock star himself. Ricky at night is just very knowledgeable in the format, and people love her!
6) What can we be doing with our station websites to better our stations as a whole?
Update. Update. Update. The social networking a lot of stations are going to is one of the best ways to connect with listeners every day! It's a great way for jocks to communicate with listeners on a personal level ... and essentially giving them a reason to listen!
7) Who is your favorite air personality not on your staff?
Scotty Davis! Unreal talent! He is the type of guy to listen to and after the break, you say to yourself, "How the hell did he tie that together?" And when you finally get how he did it and make it sound so good ... he does it again!
8) What is your favorite radio station outside of the market and why?
KDWB! It had always been my dream to work there; .doing swing for KDWB and Rob Morris is awesome. It's a blast! Being on the air there reminds me every weekend why I got into the business. It's fun!
9) If you could add any one full-time position to your budget with no questions asked, what would it be?
A full-time overnight personality! Then we would just be set!
10) Please describe the best promotion you've ever been part of?
Disney 2005 with WNCI. We all broadcasted live in Florida and gave many, many trips away to listeners to go there and escape the cold for totally free. It was great! We made people's years! We paid for everything for them! And it was a blast!
Bonus Questions
What's the best concert you've been to so far this year and why?
Smashing Pumpkins! Hands down!
Favorite artist you have met?
Three Door Down and Gwen Stefani!
Name the artist/act (living or dead) you'd love to meet and why?
Dave Matthews, my favorite artist.
What do you do in your spare time?
I love to visit my family ... and taking random road trips!
What approach do you take with a disgruntled employee?
I just say, "Let's leave ... let's go grab coffee" or lunch or whatever is normally eaten at that time. Just to get them out of here .. and we come back both good to go!
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